Review: UFO — Rocking into their fifth decade

Old rockers never die, they only fade away, and some don't even do that. UFO have been going since the 1960s, and are now slap bang in the middle of yet another tour.

Classic UFO - Phil Mogg and Pete Way photographed in October 2006.

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UFO were formed in 1969 with lead vocalist Phil Mogg, bass player Pete Way, drummer Andy Parker and Mick Bolton on lead guitar (not to be confused with Mick Bolton the keyboard player). Up until recently, Pete Way was still with the band; although not a founder member, keyboard player and second guitarist Paul Raymond has been around since 1976. The first albums with Mick Bolton contained some fantastic slow soloing, including the glorious 26+ minute ego trip Flying.

The band's golden era though was with German axeman extraordinaire Michael Schenker; many good judges believe the double album Strangers In The Night to be one of the best live rock albums ever recorded along with Live Dates II by Wishhbone Ash and Live And Dangerous by Thin Lizzy.

Vinnie Moore - no relation to the late, great Gary Moore - is the new kid on the block, joining as recently as 2004, but the American is no spring chicken, and brings a long pedigree to the band.

Check out the archive footage on YouTube, in particular Profession Of Violence and the classic Try Me if you want to hear how good lead guitar can sound with a string backing, and the classic reunion with Michael Schenker and Ulrich Roth - what a combination. You'll find the stories behind 15 of their tracks in the SongFacts database by courtesy of Carl Wiser, and of course the band have their own website, with a very professional layout like the guys themselves, but what of their latest tour? You can sample a couple of tracks from the Seven Deadly Sins tour on YouTube: Burn Your House Down and Fight Night.

Paul Raymond, time serving keyboard player and second guitarist with UFO, photographed here in October 2007.

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As is often the case with this type of music, you have to listen to a track more than once to appreciate it, and with bands like UFO, you really have to see them live, so if you like what you've heard so far, check out the UK tour dates - including Belfast and Dublin - here.